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Broadband Satellite News Digest
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News Digest
ASTROLINK RAISES $900 MILLION FOR BROADBAND SATELLITE
NETWORK
Astrolink raised an initial
$900 million in equity financing to launch up to nine, geostationary Ka-band
(20-30 Ghz) satellites to provide broadband data communications services to
customers in Europe and North and South America. Lockheed Martin Global
Telecommunications Group is investing $400 million cash in the venture,
Telespazio (a unit of Telecom Italia) is investing $250 million cash and TRW is
investing $250 million cash. The first Astrolink satellite is scheduled for
launch in 2002, followed by the launch of three additional satellites at
six-month intervals.
The Astrolink satellites are being designed with 6.5
Gbps capacity and the ability to support downlink speeds of up to 110 Mbps and
uplink speeds of 20 Mbps per channel. The architecture will be based on ATM for
supporting IP as well as synchronous voice and isochronous video services.
Astrolink plans to offer a premium ATM
service for business customers,
featuring CBR, rt-VBR, nrt-VBR, UBR and ABR services. Astrolink will build four
regional control centers to validate users, monitor the system and provide
set-up and tear-down functions. It will also build two satellite centers, three
telemetry station and 30 to 50 Gateway Earth Stations providing interexchange,
protocol conversion and uplink to the satellites at 143 Mbps per channel. The
capital costs of the entire satellite network and terrestrial support system are
estimated at $3.6 billion. Astrolink will seek strategic service provider
partners, raise additional financing and possibly seek an IPO prior to launch.
The company is based in Bethesda, Maryland. http://www.astrolink.com/
Astrolink, May 6, 1999
DIRECPC JOINS BROADCAST.COM MULTICAST
PROGRAM
Hughes Network Systems'
DirecPC satellite-based Internet service will begin narrowcasting "near
TV-quality" Web content from broadcast.com. DirecPC will uplink selected content
from featured events at broadcast.com at speeds as high as 1.2 Mbps. Subscribers
will be able to view this "multicast" content as it is streaming
down from
the DirecPC satellite. The DirecPC supports downstream access at up to 400 Kbps.
Content will be available beginning in mid-May. http://www.broadcast.com/about/press/direcpc.stm
Broadcast.com, May 6, 1999
INTELSAT PROVIDES INTERNET 2 LINK TO ISRAEL
INTELSAT will provide the first satellite link to the
Internet2 backbone by connecting Israel's Inter Universities Computation Center
(IUCC) with academic institutions in the US. The duplex service will be carried
over the INTELSAT 801 satellite and will initially operate at 45 Mbps using two
36 MHz transponders. It will be upgraded to a duplex 155 Mbps service using two
72 MHz transponders. The INTELSAT connection is expected to go live on June 1 in
partnership with Israsat, a subsidiary of Gilat Communications. http://www.intelsat.int/news/press/99-15e.htm
INTELSAT, May 6, 1999
INTELSAT DEMONSTRATES VOIP VIA SATELLITE
INTELSAT demonstrated voice over IP via satellite in conjunction
with a meeting of ETSI's Project TIPHON being held in Thailand. The satellite
Internet connection was relayed through an earth station operated by
Communications Authority of Thailand. http://www.intelsat.int/
INTELSAT, May 6,
1999
HUGHES TO INVEST $1.4 BILLION IN BROADBAND SATELLITE
SYSTEM
Hughes Electronics Corporation
will invest $1.4 billion to launch a Ka-band satellite network providing
broadband multimedia communications services in North America by 2002. The
Spacewaybroadband network initially will consist of two geosynchronous orbit
satellites built by Hughes Space and Communications, plus an in-orbit spare.
Once the geosynchronous orbit Spaceway system is operating, the next phase will
be a complementary nongeosynchronous system in lower earth orbits that would
expand the capability for two way services. The Spaceway applications will be
marketed under variations of the "Direc" name already used by Hughes. The
company will seek partners to build similar systems for Europe, Middle East and
Africa, Latin America and Asia. http://www.hns.com/news/pressrel/corporat/p031799.htm
Hughes, March 17, 1999
NORTEL NETWORKS INTRODUCES BROADBAND SATELLITE PORTFOLIO
Nortel Networks announced a broadband satellite portfolio
that enables regional operators to provide Internet, corporate data and
multimedia networking services via satellite. The system, which uses Ku-band
Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) standards to provide download speeds of 38 Mbps,
includes ground network hubs and a range of access units Société Européenne des
Satellites (SES) will deploy the Nortel equipment in a regional broadband
satellite network featuring a Ka-band satellite return channel system.
http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel, February 3,
1998
MATRA MARCONI SPACE AND NORTEL COLLABORATE ON BROADBAND
SATELLITES
Nortel Networks and Matra
Marconi Space have joined forces in a non-exclusive arrangement to offer
advanced satellite network solutions. The companies already have several joint
development projects already underway, including the network architecture for
the Network Control Center of the European Space Agency (ESA).
http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel, February 3,
1999
HONGKONG TELECOM LEASES 45 MBPS SATELLITE
LINK
Hongkong Telecom will lease a
45 Mbps satellite link from INTELSAT for an Internet trunk from the US to Hong
Kong. The service will use a cable return link. http://www.hkt.com/ABOUT/press/pressrel99/990105.html
Hongkong Telecom, January 5, 1999
HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS TO OPEN WORLD'S LARGEST SATELLITE
NETWORKING HUB
Hughes Network
Systems is building its largest satellite-networking shared hub in Southfield,
Michigan to serve between 10,000 and 15,000 remote, very small aperture terminal
(VSAT) sites. The new hub will support all HNS satellite products, including
DirecPC/Enterprise Edition, the integrated satellite business network (ISBN),
the HNS interactive distance learning (IDL) network and the new generation of
multimedia VSATs. The facility is expected to be operational in March 1999. HNS
has 60% of the global VSAT market and has shipped more than 200,000 terminals.
Separately, HNS announced that Bridge Information Systems would use its DirecPC
satellite technology to distribute financial news and information at speeds up
to 6 Mbps per second. http://www.hns.com/
HNS, December 16, 1998
LORAL PLANS SATELLITE-BASED MULTICASTING
SERVICES
Loral Space &
Communications plans to introduce satellite-based, multicast delivery services
for multimedia content developers to corporations and ISPs. The services will
use IP and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standards, as well as software
licensed from The Fantastic Corporation of Switzerland. Fantastic's software
allows customers to book, track and subscribe to multimedia services on a
per-transaction basis. Distribution will occur over Loral Orion's global network
of satellites. Service rollout is expected in early 1999. In September, Loral
announced a WorldCast service that provides international satellite access into
AGIS's IP backbone. Its WorldCast Business Edition service is targeted for
availability in Europe in Q1 and for availability in Asia Pacific, India, and
Latin America in 1999 when the new Orion 2 and Orion 3 satellites become
operational. WorldCast Business Edition service will offer various committed
information rates (CIRs), with added bursting capacity up to 2 Mbps. The data is
transmitted over the Orion 1 satellite using sub-meter receive-only very small
aperture terminals (VSATs), and linked to the Internet by Loral Orion’s ATM and
Frame Relay network. http://www.LoralOrion.com./news/newsmain.htm
Loral, December 10, 1998
FCC MAKES MORE SPECTRUM AVAILABLE FOR BROADBAND SATELLITE
SERVICE
The US Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) decided to make more spectrum available to
Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) providers from the year 2000 forward. The
addition of 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz (uplink) and 2165-2200 MHz
(downlink) brings the US into close conformance with international MSS spectrum
allocations. The FCC also proposed allowing non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed
satellite services (FSS) to operate on a co-primary basis in the Ku-band. This
proposal would allow NGSO satellite operators to provide global high-speed data
services, thereby facilitating additional competition to other satellite,
terrestrial wireless and wireline services. The Commission also has requested
comment on a request to allow a terrestrial service to retransmit local
television signals and provide data services to direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
subscribers. http://www.fcc.gov/
FCC, November 20, 1998
ECI TELECOM'S HI-TV TESTED IN EUROVISION ATM NETWORK
ECI Telecom's Hi-TV system has been
tested for transmitting MPEG-2 4:2:2 video over an international terrestrial and
satellite ATM link by the German Institut Fur Rundfunk Technik (IRT) and the
European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The network comprised a terrestrial ATM link
over STM-1 between Munich and Frankfurt, and a 34 Mbps satellite ATM link
between Frankfurt and Geneva. ECI Telecom's Hi-TV system was used as an ATM
service multiplexer and as the video / audio encoder and decoder (operating at
18 Mbps) for the studio quality video. Further tests over satellite links are
scheduled for January. http://www.ecitele.com./
ECI Telecom, October 15, 1998
COMSAT EXTENDS ATM SATELLITE LINK TO PORTUGAL'S
MARCONI
CPR Marconi, a Portuguese
carrier, began using an ATM satellite link from COMSAT to connect its Internet
backbone to the US. COMSAT Digital Teleport is providing CPR Marconi with a
2Mbps ATM satellite circuit to the US and an 8Mbps return circuit back to
Portugal. The service uses the INTELSAT 706 satellite. http://www.comsat.com/corp/news/prod_serv/prod_serv.html
COMSAT, October 13, 1998
DIRECTV JAPAN TRANSPORTS MPEG-2 / ATM TO SATELLITE UPLINK
SITE
DiviCom and Victor Company of
Japan (JVC) will supply headend equipment and MPEG-2 / ATM systems integration
to DIRECTV Japan (DTVJ), the direct broadcast satellite service provider. A
Divicom-based MPEG-2 compression system will be deployed at DTVJ's backhaul
facility in Tokyo. At the Tokyo facility, incoming analog video is digitally
compressed and statistically multiplexed onto a fiber-based ATM network for
transmission to the DTVJ uplink site in Ibaraki prefecture, approximately 100 km
away. Multiple DIRECTV transmission sites are linked over the ATM network. The
new system will allow DIRECTV Japan to upgrade from 90 to 150 channels of TV
programming by the end of the year. It will also launch a new interactive
service called InteracTV. http://www.divi.com/
Divicom, October 1, 1998
LOCKHEED MARTIN AND NORTEL FORM SATELLITE NETWORKING
ALLIANCE
Nortel and Lockheed Martin
Global Telecommunications have formed an alliance to market joint solutions to
the satellite and terrestrial communications market. Earlier this week, Lockheed
Martin announced its intention to acquire COMSAT as part of an aggressive
expansion into global satellite services. http://www.nortel.com/
Nortel, September 23, 1998
FCC PROPOSES NEW BROADBAND SATELLITE SPECTRUM
RULES
The FCC proposed new rules to
share 18 GHz band spectrum between existing terrestrial fixed microwave
operators and next generation broadband Geostationary Orbit (GSO) and
Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite systems. The FCC proposal would also
align the US domestic Table of Allocations with the ITU's allocations for
Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS). Terrestrial fixed users of 18 GHz spectrum
include point-to-point microwave communications networks and cable television
relay systems. There are several major ventures, including Teledesic, Lockheed's
Astrolink System and Alcatel's SkyBridge, planning broadband satellite services.
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/News_Releases/1998/nrin8033.html
FCC, September 18, 1998
iBEAM PLANS SATELLITE INTERNET BROADCASTING
iBEAM Broadcasting Corporation, a start-up based in Santa Clara,
California, announced plans for a satellite-based network that will provide
large scale streaming media distribution to ISPs across the continental US. The
company proposes to use Hughes Network Systems' (HNS) DirecPC satellite platform
for broadcasting live Internet events to an ISP's distributed POPs. The system
provides 6 Mbps satellite downlink rates. Foundry Networks' layer 4 switch and
caching system are used in the POP. Beta testing is underway with a limited
number of content partners and service providers. http://www.ibeam.com/
iBEAM, September 30, 1998
SKYCACHE SIGNS AGIS FOR SATELLITE DATACASTING SERVICE
AGIS, a Tier 1 ISP, will resell satellite-based
datacasting services from SkyCache to its ISP wholesale customers. SkyCache
Inc.
of Laurel, Maryland is now providing satellite-based Web caching to 20
points-of-presence (POPs) in North America. SkyCache
said other several Tier
1 ISPs are evaluating its satellite broadcast service. SkyCache uses the Ku-band
GE-3 satellite operated
by GE Americom for coverage of the continental US
with spot beams to Alaska and Hawaii. http://www.skycache.com/
SkyCache, September 30, 1998
LOCKHEED MARTIN TO ACQUIRE COMSAT FOR US$2.7 BILLION
Lockheed Martin announced plans to acquire Comsat for
US$2.7 in stock and cash. Comsat provides international satellite communications
services, including the first commercial ATM satellite point-to-point service.
Following the merger, Comsat would form part of Lockheed's new Global
Telecommunications subsidiary, which will provide satellite-based services and
terrestrial networking technologies for corporate and government customers.
Lockheed's Astrolink broadband satellite venture aims to provide global
interactive multimedia services. http://www.lmco.com/press-releases/comsat.html
Lockheed, September 20, 1998
COMSAT PLANS ATM SATELLITE SERVICES WITH SKYSTATION
COMSAT Laboratories was awarded a two-year, US$3.5
million contract to provide consulting services to Sky Station International,
the venture planning to launch geostationary, helium-filled platforms in the
stratosphere 21 kilometers above the world's major metropolitan regions. The Sky
Station lighter-than-air platforms will use an onboard ATM infrastructure to
deliver wireless communications at up to 2.048 Mbps (uplink) and 10.24 Mbps
(downlink) directly to millions of subscribers within a 1,000 kilometer
footprint. SkyStation has already secured regulatory approval from the ITU for
600 MHz of radio frequency worldwide. Registrations have filed with national
regulatory authorities for over 50 Sky Station platforms. Comsat currently
offers ATM via Satellite services to telecommunications carriers and
multinational corporations at speeds from fractional T1 to 8 Mbps, and at E-3
(34 Mbps) or DS-3 (45 Mbps). http://www.comsat.com, http://www.skystation.com/
COMSAT, July 16, 1998
ADMIRAL BILL OWENS JOINS TELEDESIC AS VICE CHAIRMAN
Teledesic LLC, the "Internet in the Sky" broadband satellite
venture, named Admiral William Arthur Owens as vice chairman of the board. Owens
served as president of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
during its acquisition of Bellcore and Network Solutions, as well as Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. In
May, Teledesic and Motorola decided to consolidate their broadband satellite
plans. The Teledesic venture also has the backing of Boeing, Matra Marconi
Space, Bill Gates, Craig McCaw and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal of Saudi Arabia.
http://www.teledesic.com/newsroom/07-09-98.html
Teledesic, July 9,
1998
ORBITAL AWARDED $260 MILLION CONTRACT FOR KA-BAND
SATELLITES
VisionStar Inc., holder of an
FCC license for broadband satellite communications, awarded a US$260 million
contract to Orbital Sciences Corporation for two geostationary Earth orbit (GEO)
communications satellites and launch services. The satellites are to have 30
Ka-band broadcast transponders. VisionStar controls a geostationary orbital slot
located directly over the central US, enabling the coverage footprint of the
satellite to span the country, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
http://www.orbital.com/
Orbital Sciences, June 8,
1998
Teledesic and Motorola Combine Internet Satellite
Efforts
Teledesic LLC and Motorola Inc.
agreed to combine their ambitious "Internet-in-the-Sky" satellite ventures into
a unified effort aimed at launching a constellation of low earth orbit (LEO)
Ka-Band satellites. As part of the deal, Motorola will receive a 26% stake in
Teledesic for a combination of cash and the value of design and development from
Celestri (a total investment of US$750 million). Motorola will be the prime
contractor for the global technology team; Boeing and Matra Marconi Space will
also serve as founding industrial partners. Teledesic was initially backed by
Craig McCaw and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. In April 1997, Boeing committed
to invest $100 million in Teledesic and in April 1998, Prince Alwaleed of Saudi
Arabia invested $200 million in Teledesic.
(http://www.teledesic.com/newsroom/05-21-98.html)
Teledesic,
May 21, 1998
SKY STATION NAMES PARTNERS FOR STRATOSPHERIC BALLOON
PROJECT
Sky Station International, the
venture that plans to launch, solar powered lighter-than-air communications
platforms into the stratosphere, named its team of partners for the US$2.5
billion project. The goal is to launch stationary, balloons 21 km (70,000 ft)
above major metropolitan areas to provide high-densities of T1/E1 class wireless
services. The advantage would be lower cost and better latency characteristics
than broadband LEO or GEO satellites. Aerospatiale SNI of France will design the
floating platforms; Alenia Spazio/Finmeccanica of Italy will serve as the
primary payload developer; COMSAT will provide network integration services;
Dornier Satellitensysteme GmbH of Germany will supply sub-systems; Thomson-CSF
will make gateway earth stations; Stanford Telecom will design user terminals
and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will provide end-to-end systems
integration. General
Alexander M. Haig is founder and Chairman of Sky
Station. The ITU has already granted regulatory approval for the project to use
the 47 GHz frequency band. (http://www.skystation.com/)
Sky
Station, April 23, 1998
INTELSAT CREATES NEW SKIES SATELLITE
SPIN-OFF
The governing bodies of
INTELSAT agreed to create an independent spin-off company, temporarily called
New Skies Satellites, N.V, as part of its overall restructuring plan. INTELSAT
will transfer six of its existing satellites to New Skies, along with INTELSAT's
broadband Ka-band frequency registrations in two key orbital locations. New
Skies will be incorporated in The Netherlands and will have a diluted ownership
via an initial public offering (IPO). NM Rothschild and and Goldman Sachs are
financial advisors to the process. (http://www.intelsat.com/cmc/press/98-14.htm)
INTELSAT,
March 31, 1998
TELESAT CANADA ORDERS WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL COMMERCIAL
SATELLITE
Telesat Canada has ordered
a commercial communications satellite from Hughes Space and Communications
International bearing 48 Ku-band transponders and 36 C-band transponders, a 75%
increase in capacity over Hughes' current generation HS 601 spacecraft. The
satellite will have a footprint covering North and South America. Launch is
planned for 2000. Hughes, which has booked over US$1 billion in new satellite
orders during Q1, recently opened a factory in Los Angeles capable of producing
and stress testing satellites operating in the powerful Ka-band frequencies.
(http://www.hughespace.com/hsc_pressreleases/98_03_27_anikf1.html)
Hughes,
March 27, 1998
EET: IETF DRAFTS TCP UPGRADE FOR SATELLITES
Work by NASA's Lewis Research Center on TCP connections
over satellite has led to a new TCP Working Group at the IEFT, according to
Electronic Engineering Times. TCP-SAT could also serve a replacement for IP
Multicast in terrestrial networks, according to some observers quoted in the
article, because it addresses the fundamental limitations in the transport
protocol. (http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?EET19980323S0033,
http://tcpsat.lerc.nasa.gov/tcpsat/)
EET,
March 23, 1998
COMSAT WINS FIRST ATM VIA SATELLITE CONTRACT
COMSAT World Systems is providing ATM via satellite
service to Puerto Rico's Telefonica Larga Distancia (TLD) for transporting
Internet traffic to and from several South American countries. The ATM satellite
link supports operates at up to 34 Mbps outbound from Puerto Rico to South
America, while inbound traffic to Puerto Rico is supported at speeds up to 8
Mbps. COMSAT said the Puerto Rico TLD installation is the world's first
commercial ATM satellite link. (http://www.comsat.com/corp/news/prod_serv/prod_serv.html#atmcontract)
COMSAT, March 19, 1998
Teledesic's First Ka-Band Broadband Satellite
Launched
Orbital Sciences Corporation
successfully launched into space Teledesic's first Broadband Advanced Technology
satellite. Teledesic 1, which is the world's first commercial Ka-band low earth
orbit (LEO) spacecraft, was jointly designed and built by Orbital, Teledesic and
Boeing. Teledesic, which is backed by Craig McCaw and Bill Gates, plan98_03_27_anikf1.htmls
to launch 288 Ka-band LEO satellites to provide "fiber-like" services wordwide
beginning in 2002. The satelites will operate in the Ka-band of the radio
spectrum at 28.6 - 29.1 GHz for uplink and 18.8 - 19.3 GHz for the downlink.
Teledesic shared the Orbital rocket payload with a NASA satellite for
atmospheric studies. (http://www.atmdigest.com/pr130.html,%20http:/www.teledesic.com)
Orbital
Sciences Corp, February 26, 1998
NASA's ACTs Project Extended to 2000
NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) project has
been extended through September 2000, providing a continuing opportunity for
industry and academia to experiment with its pioneering technology. The NASA
satellite operates in the K and Ka-bands (30/20 GHz) and features dynamic
hopping spot beams as well as advanced on-board traffic switching and
processing. Data rates for the ACTS system range from a few kilobits per second
to OC-12 ATM. Particular areas of focus for the extended ACTs experiment program
are expected to include performance optimization of TCP/IP over satellite ATM
networks, and performance studies of ground terminals designed for the next
generation Ka-band constellations. Since the launch of ACTS in 1993, over
one-hundred industry, government, and university ogranizations have participated
in the Experiment Program. (http://kronos.lerc.nasa.gov/acts/eoa/eoa.html)
NASA
Motorola's Celetri Selects Swiss Firm for
Intersatellite Lasers
Motorola's
planned Celestri LEO satellite system has chosen Contraves Space, a division of
the Zurich-based Oerlikon Contraves Group, to design its optical inter-satellite
link (OISL) terminals. The OISL devices will allow the 63 low earth orbit (LEO)
satellites and nine geostationary orbit (GEOs) satellites in the Celestri system
to communicate with each other across multiple high-speed laser links. Each LEO
satellite will have its own on-board switching/routing equipment and six optical
link terminals to interconnect it to nearby satellites in the Celestri
constellation. Celestri plans to begin offering bandwidth-on-demand services at
data rates ranging from 64Kbps to 155Mbps, by 2003. The Contraves Space contract
is expected to exceed US$150 million. (http://www.mot.com/GSS/SSTG/projects/celestri/index.html)
Motorola,
February 24, 1998
MOTOROLA'S CELESTRI SATELLITE NETWORK TO USE CGAAS
Motorola Semiconductor will develop
custom complimentary gallium arsenide (CGaAs) logic circuits for its parent
company's planned Celestri broadband satellite network. The proprietary silicon
will offer a 7-to-1 power advantage over current CMOS technology. Motorola is
seeking partners to launch a constellation of 63 intelligent low earth orbit
(LEO) satellites, nine geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites, ground
stations and terminal equipment to deliver broadband services to carriers and
multinational companies globally. (http://www.mot.com/GSS/SSTG/projects/celestri/index.html)
Motorola,
February 10, 1998
SECANT PROVIDES ATM SECURITY FOR BROADBAND SATELLITE
DEMO
NASA's recent Consolidated
Space Operations Contract (CSOC) broadband satellite demonstration provided by
Lockheed Martin and its partners used SECANT Network Technologies' CellCase
encryption systems on its 45Mbps links. The satellite communications
configuration, which was based on NASA's Advanced Communications Technology
Satellite system, provided encryption of control information, data transfer
channels and MPEG video streams with no perceptible delay in data transfer.
(http://www.secantnet.com/r2_3_98.html)
SECANT, February 3, 1998
LOCKHEED MARTIN DEMONSTRATES SPACE COMMUNICATION
NETWORK
Lockheed Martin,
AlliedSignal, and Computer Sciences Corporation demonstrated a prototype space
communications network linking control centers in Houston with spacecraft via
NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS). The simulated
spacecraft was equipped with an on-board ATM switch and IP router using
commercially available components. (http://www.lmco.com/)
Lockheed
Martin, January 21, 1998
TELEGLOBE, TELSTRA LAUNCH HYBRID CABLE/SATELLITE INTERNET
LINK
Teleglobe and Telstra
activated a 45Mbps hybrid cable/satellite asymmetric link between Australia and
the US for Internet connectivity. The connection uses a simplex circuit on
Telstra's existing transoceanic cable capacity for the inbound link to the
United States and a 45Mbps simplex satellite link from via INTELSAT for the
return link to Australia. The hybrid/asymmetric solution is expected to be much
more cost effective for carriers with Internet connections to the US.
(http://www.teleglobe.ca/)
Teleglobe, January 15,
1998
MCI PROVIDES TELECOM MALAYSIA WITH SATELLITE
LINK
MCI announced contracts valued
at a total US$60 million to supply Internet connectivity to Telecom Malaysia,
DACOM of Korea, ANTEL of Uruguay, TELINTAR of Argentina, and RWANDA TEL. The
Telecom Malaysia Internet connection will be provided over a 45Mbps satellite
link. (http://www.mci.com)
MCI, December 9,
1997
WRC ADOPTS BROADBAND SATELLITE SPECTRUM SHARING
AGREEMENT
A month long World
Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva hosted by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) concluded with a regulatory agreement on spectrum
sharing required for next-generation broadband satellites. The agreement
supports frequency sharing and re-use between LEO, GEO, and terrestrial systems.
Previously, non-geostationary satellite systems including the Teledesic
"Internet-in-the-Sky" project backed by Bill Gates, Craig McCaw and Boeing, held
exclusive rights to 400MHz in the Ka-band frequencies. The WRC decision was
strongly supported by Alcatel and its proposed SkyBridge constellation of 64 LEO
satellites, as well by Motorola and its proposed Celestri Systems of 63 LEO
satellites and nine GEO satellites. Alcatel expects its first SkyBridge services
be rolled out by the end of 2001, while Motorola anticipates having its system
in operation by 2003. Teledesic said the new international agreement removed its
last major regulatory obstacle. The WRC framework designates a pair of 500 MHz
bands of spectrum internationally for use by non-geostationary fixed satellite
services (NGSO FSS) and these paired bands match those licensed to Teledesic
earlier this year by the US FCC. Teledesic, which plans to launch 288 LEO
satellites (plus a number of spare satellites), is targeting its service to
begin in 2002.
(http://www.skybridgesatellite.com/,
http://www.mot.com/GSS/SSTG/projects/celestri/index.html, http://www.teledesic.com/newsroom/11-21-97.html)
Alcatel,
Motorola, Teledesic, November 21, 1997
ALCATEL ANNOUNCES NEW SKYBRIDGE SATELLITE
INVESTORS
Mitsubishi, Sharp, SPAR
Aerospace of Canada, and Aerospatiale of France have committed financial support
to the US$3.5 billion SkyBridge broadband satellite initiative led by Alcatel
Alsthom. SkyBridge aims to launch a constellation of 64 low-earth orbiting (LEO)
satellites supporting global broadband services capable of downstream speeds of
up to 60Mbps, with up to 2 Mbps on the return link.
(http://www.alcatel.com)
Alcatel, November 12,
1997
MOTOROLA AWARDS US$1BILLION CELESTRI CONTRACT TO MATRA
MARCONI
Motorola awarded a contract
valued in excess of US$1 billion to Matra Marconi Space S.A. for the development
and supply of the system bus platform of its planned Celestri broadband
satellite constellation. Matra Marconi Space will supply the systems for 70 low
earth orbit (LEO) satellites and on geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites.
Celestri, which is expected to be operational in 2003, aims provide global
bandwidth on demand using a combination of LEO and GEO satellites linked to
terrestrial networks. Celestri specifications call for intersatellite link rates
of 4.5Gbps, satellite switch rates of 17.5Gbps, and earth terminal bit rates
ranging from 2Mbps to 155Mbps. The company envisions a number of CPE and carrier
interconnection devices at competitive price points. White papers on Celestri,
as well as Motorola's licensing application to the FCC, are available online.
Matra Marconi Space is a joint venture by LAGARDERE (France) and GEC (UK).
(http://www.mot.com/GSS/SSTG/projects/celestri/index.html)
Motorola,
October 29, 1997
COMSAT ANNOUNCES 2MBPS SMALL SATELLITE DISH
CAPABILITY
COMSAT announced a new
"Link One" satellite communications technology that supports ATM, Frame Relay,
SS7 and ISDN connections in an integrated platform. COMSAT's Link One technology
allows antennas measuring 2.4 meters to support data rates of 2 Mbps, while
11meter antennas can support up to 32 Mbps. Pre-commercial testing is expected
to begin in early 1998. (http://www.comsat.com/corp/news/prod_serv/prod_serv.html)
COMSAT,
October 21, 1997
DIVICOM TOOL MERGES DATA WITH MPEG VIDEO
STREAMS
DiviCom has introduced a
means to merge high-speed data with MPEG video streams in real-time. The
company's MPEG Media Toolkit, which consists of a Windows NT workstation,
DiviCom's real-time MPEG I/O board and a set of application programming
interfaces (APIs), allows data to be injected into MPEG video streams in a
network setting. The solution supports real time data input rates of up to
40Mbps or 80Mbps of unidirectional output. DiviCom said it will use the
technology for a corporate LAN interconnection service using direct broadcast
satellites (DBS). DiviCom's MPEG-2/DVB Internetworking Via Satellite system will
also feature multicast delivery capabilities.
(http://www.divi.com)
DiviCom , September 12,
1997
NORTEL FORMS SATELLITE NETWORKS SOLUTIONS
UNIT
Nortel has formed a Satellite
Network Solutions division to design, build and commission networks for
broadband, multimedia satellite telecommunications. Nortel said the new unit
will build satellite access and satellite ground network systems equipment based
on GSM and CDMA technology. Nortel's Magellan family of ATM, Frame Relay and
packet data networking products will also be leveraged.
(http://www.nortel.com)
Nortel News Release, September 10,
1997
RAYTHEON AWARDED $44 MILLION FOR ARMY COMMUNICATIONS
PROGRAMS
Raytheon Electronic Systems
was awarded a US$44 million contract to supply telecom equipment for the
Multiplex Integration and Defense Communications Satellite Automation System
(MIDAS), part of the US military global network of 88 Defense Satellite
Communication System (DSCS) nodes. Under the contract, Raytheon, COMSAT-RSI and
DNE Technologies will supply modular multiplexers, cryptographic modules, matrix
switching and ATM baseband communications equipment.
(http://www.raytheon.com/res/)
Raytheon, August 28,
1997
COM DEV AND NEWBRIDGE LAUNCH SPACEBRIDGE NETWORKS
CORPORATION
Newbridge Networks will
launch a joint venture with COM DEV International to supply broadband products
for multimedia satellite networks and related ground segments. The new
SpaceBridge Networks Corporation plans to deliver high bit-rate on-board
satellite switches using ATM, Frame Relay or TDM technology. The company will
customize terrestrial ATM and TDM switch technology from Newbridge while
leveraging the satellite and wireless systems strengths of COM DEV. Financial
terms were not disclosed. COM DEV International is a Canadian-based technology
company offering communications technology to major satellite contractors.
(http://www.newbridge.com)
Newbridge Networks, August 14,
1997
GDC PROVIDES US AIR FORCE WITH ATM
General DataComm's has been chosen to provide the ATM infrastructure
for the United States Air Force Space Command Spacelift Range System network, a
multimillion dollar network being designed and built by systems integrator
Harris Corporation. GDC will supply 37 ATM switches from its APEX product family
for the ATM WAN. The Air Force's Space Command Spacelift Range System project
includes a redundant, SONET OC-12 (622Mbps) Cape Fiber Optic Network (CFON) for
providing enhanced communications at Cape Canaveral, Florida; a Range Operations
Control Center for consolidating network management; and a USAF Eastern Range
Satellite Network for tracking space vehicles. Financial terms were not
disclosed. (http://www.gdc.com)
GDC, August 11,
1997
SPRINT TESTING ATM VIA SATELLITE TO HONG KONG,
TAIWAN
Sprint has begun testing
COMSAT World Systems' satellite-based ATM service with Hong Kong Telecom and
Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. The ATM-via-satellite trial is expected to be
expanded to Thailand and Singapore later this year. The trial represents one of
the earliest tests of multipoint ATM via satellite among multiple carriers.
COMSAT initiated commercial ATM satellite services in March, supporting speeds
up to DS-3.
(http://www.sprint.com/sprint/press/releases/9707/9707310441.html)
Sprint,
July 31, 1997
LORAL AND ALCATEL ALLIANCE FOR MULTIMEDIA SATELLITE
NETWORKS
Loral Space &
Communications and Alcatel Alsthom have formed an alliance to jointly develop,
deploy and operate two separate satellite networks for providing global
multimedia services. Under the pact, Alcatel will invest in Loral's US$1.6
billion geostationary (GEO) satellite CyberStar project, which aims to provide
Internet access, data broadcasting and other broadband interconnection services
via leased Ku-band satellite transponders beginning in late 1997. CyberStar
plans to have its own dedicated constellation of geosynchronous Ka-band
satellites ready beginning in 1999. Loral will make a similar cross-investment
in Alcatel's US$3.5 billion SkyBridge project, which plans to use 64
low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites for bandwidth on demand services beginning in
2001. SkyBridge's main features include use of the Ku band and ATM-based
interconnection with terrestrial infrastructure. Announcement of the
Alcatel/Loral alliance comes one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that
Motorola is planning its own US$12.9 billion satellite constellation for
delivering multimedia services.
(http://www.alcatel.com/news/pressrel/alsthom/1997/06_18uk.htm)
Alcatel
, June 18, 1997
BELL LABS DEMOS ULTRA-HIGH-POWER SMF LASERS
Bell Labs has developed a working prototype high power
single-mode fiber laser that could be used to significantly boost communications
signals in long-haul communications systems, such as satellite-to-satellite
links. The experimental laser produces an output power as high as 20.4 watts at
1101 nanometers into a single-mode fiber, or up to 300% higher than conventional
devices. (http://www.lucent.com/press/0597/970528.bla.html)
Bell
Labs, May 28, 1997
Boeing Takes 10% Equity Stake in Teledesic
Boeing will become an equity partner in Teledesic and
serve as the prime contractor for the company’s global, broadband
"Internet-in-the-Sky." Boeing will invest up to $100 million for 10 percent of
the current ownership of Teledesic, a private company whose primary investors
are Craig McCaw and Chairman Bill Gates. Boeing plans to lead an international
team of suppliers to design, build and launch hundreds of LEO satellites for the
Teledesic network. (http://www.teledesic.com/newsroom/04-29-97.html)
Teledesic,
April 29, 1997
ROCKWELL SEMICONDUCTOR FORMS NETWORK ACCESS DIVISION
Rockwell Semiconductor Systems has
formed a new business unit focused on 56Kbps access concentrators, xDSL
terminals, T1/E1 components, and ATM and other packet-switched WAN equipment.
Rockwell acquired Brooktree in September 1996, adding xDSL modem chips, ATM SAR
controllers, T1/E1 line interface units and framers, ADPCM voice compression
devices, and HDLC and SMDS formatters to its portfolio. Last week, Rockwell also
announced plans to acquire the Hi-Media broadband communications chipset
business of ComStream Corporation for approximately US$50 million. The Hi-Media
division of ComStream is a major IC supplier for Direct Broadcast Satellite
(DBS) set-top boxes in the US. Hi-Media's products also include network
interface modules based on QPSK and QAM broadband modem technologies. (http://www.nb.rockwell.com/)
Rockwell,
April 14, 1997
HNS ANNOUNCES ADAPTER FOR MS DIGITAL TV
Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS) said that it is on track to
deliver a Digital Satellite System PC adapter card that supports Microsoft's
recently announced video and data broadcast capabilities for Windows. The card
is expected to be introduced later this year and will interoperate with the
DIRECTV digital satellite service. (http://www.hns.com)
Hughes
Network Systems, April 16, 1997
YURIE INTRODUCES ATM SERVICE ACCESS MUX SUPPORTING NOISY
LINKS
Yurie Systems launched an ATM
service access multiplexer designed for corporate networks. The new LDR50 ATM
service access multiplexer offers four user slots and supports a variety of
standard network and user interfaces, including OC-3c, T3, T1, V.35, and
EIA-232/V.24. Yurie plans to add an Ethernet module later this year, as well as
E1 and E3 interfaces. The customer premises product also features Yurie's
patented Limitless ATM Network protocol and adaptive queue management algorithm
for supporting ATM connections over low-speed and poor-quality circuits, such as
satellite links or specialized applications for airline, cruise ship and oil
industries. List prices range from US$20,000 to US$40,000, depending on
configuration. Yurie Systems offers two other ATM access platforms: a device
designed for branch offices with ATM at T1 speeds or lower and a carrier-class
ATM access concentrator. (http://www.yurie.com)
Yurie Systems,
April 10, 1997
DIVICOM TO PROVIDE MPEG-2/DVB SYSTEMS TO AUSTRALIA'S OPTUS
Australia's Optus Communications
has chosen DiviCom Inc. to provide both the MPEG-2/DVB equipment and integration
for the head-end facilities of its multimillion dollar domestic digital
broadcast satellite service. The forthcoming Optus Aurora service will rely on
an ATM network to transmit from remote head-end facilities much of the
programming that it will send over satellite. Divicom said the majority of its
ATM-compatible MPEG-2/DVB encoders will be installed at the Optus primary
satellite ground station at Belrose, near Sydney. Terms of the deal were not
disclosed. The Optus Aurora service, which is expected go live between June and
August of this year, will enable residential consumers in remote areas of
Australia to receive TV, audio channels and data with a single satellite dish.
(http://www.divi.com, http://www.optus.net/)
Optus,
March 26, 1997
COMSAT ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL ATM VIA SATELLITE
SERVICE
Comsat Corp. said that it is
now offering point-to-point commercial ATM services at rates up to 45Mbps on a
worldwide basis. Comsat's ATM service uses specialized satellite interfaces that
can be located at the customer's premises, the earth station or the ATM switch.
Sprint is testing the ATM satellite service. Comsat said other uses could
include corporate intranet access to geographically remote locations.
(http://www.comsat.com)
Comsat, March 17,
1997
FCC LICENSES TELEDESIC'S
"INTERNET-IN-THE-SKY"
Teledesic
Corp. was granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to
build, launch and operate a constellation of low-Earth-orbiting (LEO)
telecommunications satellites. The FCC license allows Teledesic to make use of
500MHz of domestic radio frequency in the 28GHz band -- the uplink portion of
the Ka-band -- and a corresponding 500MHz of downlink spectrum. The ITU has
already designated the same radio spectrum for use by non-geostationary fixed
satellite services. Teledesic, which is backed by TCI's Craig McCaw and
Microsoft's Bill Gates, anticipates that its initial service will begin in 2002.
(http://www.teledesic.com/)
Teledesic,
March 14, 1997
CEBIT: INTEL BACKS EUROPEAN SATELLITE MULTIMEDIA
COMPANY
Intel and Societe Europeenne
des Satellite (SES) have formed a joint venture to deliver data communications
services by satellite to individual PC users across Europe. The new European
Satellite Multimedia Services company, which will be based in Luxembourg, will
use SES's existing ASTRA satellites and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)
transmission standards. ASTRA-NET PC reception will require a 50-60cm, fixed,
single-feed dish and a DVB-compliant PC card.
(http://www.astra.lu)
Astra, March 12,
1997
ALCATEL FILES FCC APPLICATION FOR MULTIMEDIA SATELLITE
CONSTELLATION
Alcatel Alsthom has
filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to
launch and operate 64 low Earth orbit satellites. The "SkyBridge" constellation
of satellites aims to provide high-speed data communications services at rates
up to 60Mbps to business and residential users worldwide beginning in 2001.
Alcatel estimates the capital cost of the project at US$3.5 billion and expects
the funds will be raised through a combination of equity and debt placements.
The FCC application seeks authority to use the Ku band, which would be shared
with existing geostationary satellites using new technology developed by
Alcatel. (http://www.alcatel.com/)
Alcatel,
February 28, 1997
Copyright 1999, 1998, 1997 ATM News Inc.